Goodbye Paul Faulkner.

[ChicagoLion]

My Dad rated Greenalgh

[dave shelley]

I didn't.

[Damo70]

From the practice of apprentices holding candles up for craftsmen to work in bad light. Apparently.

If you're not even good even for that task, then you're not going to be much good at anything else.

I had never thought too deeply about that phrase before but realised I didn't have a clue where it came from either. I love finding out little nuggets like that. Dave has made my day.

I know, I know. I need to get out more.

[dave.woodhall]

From the practice of apprentices holding candles up for craftsmen to work in bad light. Apparently.

If you're not even good even for that task, then you're not going to be much good at anything else.

I had never thought too deeply about that phrase before but realised I didn't have a clue where it came from either. I love finding out little nuggets like that. Dave has made my day.

I know, I know. I need to get out more.

If you like, I can tell you where the idea that breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck originates.

[cheltenhamlion]

Legion did it?

[peter w]

I didn't rate PF so his departure is no loss.

BUT, the reason why he is going I suspect is that he has no interest in leading a rudderless ship until a new  skipper arrives and dumps him.

The prospects for next season are the worst in living memory.

Sorry Gary but they're not.  Maybe in your lifetime but certainly not in mine.  For those complaining about Senderos and Cole, back in the sixties we were signing other clubs' reserves for 18-20k when the progressive clubs were paying 60-100k.  Liverpool were signing the likes of Emlyn Hughes whilst we got, with respect to them, John Woodward, Brian Greenhalgh and Tommy Mitchinson.  Irrespective of how the game has changed with the passing of time, those three are hardly able to hold a candle to Senderos and Cole.

*I've never really understood that phrase, hold a candle to.*

Emlyn Hughes? Bullet dodged then if you ask me. Although dodging it all the way to the 3rd division is a bit of a swerve.

In all honesty I have no idea what the CEO of a football club does or is supposed to do so I have no idea if he's any good at it. To get the FA position you'd have to consider that he must have been thought of highly in some quarters.

I've also no idea what it means in terms of the sale but I can understand why he'd want job security and would look elsewhere for it.

[peter w]

From the practice of apprentices holding candles up for craftsmen to work in bad light. Apparently.

If you're not even good even for that task, then you're not going to be much good at anything else.

I had never thought too deeply about that phrase before but realised I didn't have a clue where it came from either. I love finding out little nuggets like that. Dave has made my day.

I know, I know. I need to get out more.

If you like, I can tell you where the idea that breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck originates.

Summat to do with ancient Greece or Rome wasn't it?

[Diablo]

From the practice of apprentices holding candles up for craftsmen to work in bad light. Apparently.

If you're not even good even for that task, then you're not going to be much good at anything else.

I had never thought too deeply about that phrase before but realised I didn't have a clue where it came from either. I love finding out little nuggets like that. Dave has made my day.

I know, I know. I need to get out more.

If you like, I can tell you where the idea that breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck originates.

I like this game. Go on Dave :-)

[dave.woodhall]

Back in the days when mirrors were comparatively expensive you'd have just one in the house if you were lucky, and chances are it would be a family heirloom. If you broke it a replacement would take on average seven years to save for.

[Damo70]

For me, this now has the potential to be one of the finest 'going off on a tangent' threads ever. And there have been some classics in the past.

[ChicagoLion]

What about, "one for the road"  ?

[dave shelley]

I believe that stems from the time criminals were taken to their place of execution.  They would be offered a drink at the pub/inn as they were transported to the hangman.

[hilts_coolerking]

My old man says 'such-and-such hasn't happened for donkeys years'.  Do donkeys live a long time?

Continuing the equine theme, my mate Tony used to say 'Shanks's pony'; I've no idea where that comes from.

[garyshawsknee]

You're right Dave it is. 'Back to square one' comes from when the first football radio commentaries were on and the listener had a card of the pitch with different areas numbered, so a goal kick or when the keeper had it was ' back to square one'. Read it the other day in the excellent Martin Kelner book.

[Dave]

My old man says 'such-and-such hasn't happened for donkeys years'.  Do donkeys live a long time?

Rhyming slang I believe.

Donkey's ears = years. So back in the day it was just 'such-and-such hasn't happened for donkeys'. The years bit seems to have superfluously been added back in comparatively recently.

Again, I think this is just a theory (like the candle one above) rather than a definite answer.